Grab a Bunch for Your Kidneys
Eating four of these a week can cut your kidney-cancer risk in half. Hint: You need to peel it.
Yep, we’re talking bananas. They’re bursting with phenolic compounds that appear to thwart renal-cancer cells. And that’s not all the monkey’s favorite fruit brings to your body . . .
Phenols, Potassium, and More
Phenols — plant-based substances linked to all sorts of health benefits, from cancer prevention to heart health — aren’t the only goodies that bananas have to offer. No doubt you already know about the super potassium stores in the yellow-skinned fruit (450 milligrams in one banana!). But they’re also a good source of B vitamins like B6 and folate, plus calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C.
Benefits of B Abound
Along with reversing moodiness, irritability, impatience, tension, anger, and depression, B vitamins may increase energy and promote a sense of well-being, writes Jack Challem in The Food-Mood Solution.
You can get all the B you need from a B-complex supplement or a multivitamin.
Or stock up on some of the best food sources of B:
For B1 (thiamin): wheat germ, peas, long-grain brown rice, lentils, pork, and whole-wheat bread
For B2 (riboflavin): fortified cereals, milk, almonds, and broccoli
For B3 (niacin): tuna, chicken, salmon, fortified cereals, and peanuts
For B5 (pantothenic acid): yogurt, avocadoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and chicken
For B6: fortified cereals, bananas, salmon, and spinach
For B12: chicken, turkey, milk, and eggs
For folate: fortified cereals, lentils, garbanzo beans, orange juice
A fresh, whole banana makes a great snack. But why stop there with this versatile fruit?
For a healthy (and satisfying) snack, top rice cakes with bananas and natural peanut butter.
For more heath tips, browse Encouraging Health.
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